Summary

The second era ofMistbornmay be an exciting and unequaled entry to the fantasy musical genre , but it falls slightly brusque of the original trilogy . Aside from the standaloneElantris , Mistbornis generator Brandon Sanderson ’s first across-the-board fantasy story andthe perfect entryway point to the Cosmere , his fantasy universe that link up his various series and novels . nigh two decade afterMistborn : The Final Empirewas publish , Sanderson ’s popularity continues to grow each year , with him free four books in 2023 via his record - breaking Kickstarter campaign . In 2024 , fans thirstily wait his fifth installation ofThe Stormlight Archive .

ThenextMistbornbookwill be free in some years , but the seven current novels offer plenty to discuss in the meantime . The original trilogy is set in a relatively typical medieval fantasy stage setting , blockade the unequalled environmental differences that distinguish each major planet on the Cosmere . Rather than picking up in the same setting , Mistborn Era 2has a 300 - year meter jump , with technical advancements impact the world and its previously establish magical system . This allows for a fresh story to take situation in a Earth drastically altered and develop by events readers are already familiar with .

Book Title

The Mistborn books with Vin (from Mistborn) over them

Release Date

The Final Empire

July 17 , 2006

Kelsier from Mistborn and book covers for Tress of the Emerald Sea and The Way of Kings

The Well of Ascension

August 21 , 2007

The Hero of Ages

Kelsier and The Lord Ruler Mistborn

October 14 , 2008

The Alloy of Law

November 8 , 2011

Vin weilding a large sword composited over characters from Mistborn Era two from the Mistborn Series

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore

Shadows of Self

October 6 , 2015

The Bands of Mourning

Mistborn Era 2 The Bands of Mourning Brandon Sanderson

January 26 , 2016

The Lost Metal

November 15 , 2022

Mistborn Era 2 The Alloy of Law Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn Era 2 Puts A New Spin On The World (But The Original Trilogy Is Better)

start with what work well , the world - building inMistborn Era 2seamlessly transitions with its time jumpand technological advancements . The " reference " surgical incision ofThe Alloy of Lawexplains that Sanderson"wanted to move away from the estimate of fantasy worlds as stable position , where millennia would cash in one’s chips and engineering science would never vary . “It ’s hard to imagine this working in many phantasy serial , but the shift establishes a new aesthetic that feel close to the originalMistborntrilogy ’s world while volunteer fresh elements to work with .

Brandon Sanderson is wide praise for his complex , distinctive magical systems , and it ’s often one of the first subjects of praise forMistborn . The various economic consumption of different metals across Allomancy , Hemalurgy , and Feruchemy seem knotty , but they ’re introduced at a steady pace that make them easy to hire with . Suddenly factor hitman into such a scheme seems like it would be difficult , butEra 2 develops new fighting styles to accommodate for more advanced weaponry .

At their core , Sanderson ’s books are character - driven novel , and that ’s where the originalMistbornbooks have the advantage .

The Lord Ruler with spears impaling him from Mistborn Spanish illustrated edition

The macrocosm - construction differences between era can amount down to the phantasy aesthetic preferences of the reader , as both work fluidly enough that it ’s hard to state one make for better than the other definitively . But as Brandon Sanderson state in his introduction toThe Stormlight Archive,“But a great book for me is n’t about a deception , it ’s about the people that the magic affects.​"At their core , Sanderson ’s Good Book are fictional character - drive novels , and that ’s where the originalMistbornbooks have the reward .

With a first Mistborn flick now in development , many may need to see the Mistborn story via the Bible before watching it on the big blind .

Mistborn Era 1 Has Better Characters (But Era 2 Has Better Dynamics)

Despite bearing the often grueling burden of introduce audiences to the world of Scadrial , Mistborn : The Final Empireis stillthe bestMistbornbook . Not only is it exhilarating as a heist action story or a mystery thriller at different times , butThe Final Empireestablishes theatrical role that are accessible , meaningful , and continuously compelling . Kelsier ’s personal appeal explodes off the page , while Sazed ’s sapience and endear nature make him the sodding supporting figure . Meanwhile , younger characters like Vin and Elend begin electric discharge that always tower at the heartstrings .

What makes Sanderson ’s story so relatable is that his champion see nuanced , modern internal struggles .

The outside problems faced by phantasy reference can be challenging to link up with , but what makes Sanderson ’s story so relatable is that his heroes experience nuanced , forward-looking inner struggle . Over three tidy novel , theMistborncharacters undergo subtle , realistic , and meaningful change . While the same can be say for earned run average 2 , the individual quality arcs are n’t as muscular , as the story concentre more on kinetics instead .

Brandon Sanderson with Mistborn covers

Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury

To clear up , Mistborn Era 1has some excellent dynamics . Vin and Elend have beautiful chemistry , as do Kelsier and the thieving crew . However , Mistborn Era 2is much model after gunslinging " brother cop " Westerns . Wax and Wayne are uproarious and fun to fall out , which makes for a refreshing timbre after the heavier textile in the original trilogy , but they do n’t finger as meaningful overall . Both sagas have their strength and weakness , butthe originalMistbornseries takes the cake for character development .

Brandon Sanderson ’s dear Mistborn serial has a film adaptation in early development , and the other has other novel that should stick to it .

Mistborn Era 1’s Extended Page Counts Allow For More Complex Narratives

A prominent reason the originalMistborncharacters feel more meaningful is that audiences pass more time with them . The admixture of Lawis the shortest novel in the serial publication , at 332 pages , and it ’s the washy in the seven - leger saga . As proven byThe Stormlight Archive , Sanderson prospers with an lengthened page reckoning . Substantial use of longer varlet counts admit the audience to ramp up a more meaningful connexion , ultimately increase the stakes during the climactic action .

The longer volumes in the originalMistbornseries allow for in - deepness separated story arcs in each Holy Writ .

The shorter pageboy counts gain Era 2 ’s timber geological fault but ultimately ensue in less complex narration . Even with four Good Book instead of three , the farseeing volumes in the originalMistbornseries grant for in - depth isolated story arcs in each book . In total , Vin has rough 100,000 more point - of - view chapter words than Wax , despite Era 1 covering a wider casting of character . She ’s one of Sanderson ’s most beloved protagonists for good reason .

The Lord Ruler Is Still Mistborn’s Best Villain

Brandon Sanderson has make some masterful villains throughout the Cosmere , like Taravangian and Moash inThe Stormlight Archiveand Hrathen inElantris . InMistborn , The Lord Ruler is the standout adversary despite barely being in the books . The quality ’s gloriole of mystery makes him so compelling , and chance on more about his past is a huge advocator of the original trilogy ’s storytelling . Miles Hundredlives is absorb in earned run average 2 , butShards like Autonomy and Ruin do n’t compare to the shockingly human qualities of The Lord Ruler .

Brandon Sanderson ’s Mistborn serial has a motion-picture show adaptation in early development , and these characters deserve more time than they had in the novels .

Mistborn Era 3 Could Be Brandon Sanderson’s Best Saga Yet

Brandon Sanderson has n’t even begin workplace onMistborn Era 3yet , but there ’s enough information on the plotted trilogy to indicate they could be fantastic . Mistborn Era 3is specify to happen over fifty after geological era 2 , mirroring the genuine cosmos ’s eighties former - computer technology . Like the originalMistborntrilogy , Era 3will feature a female protagonist , who is currently design to be a Terris woman computer programmer . This jump will push the Cosmere further into skill fiction and likely follow further connectivity between Sanderson ’s man .

Brandon Sanderson is currently planning to startMistborn epoch 3 in former 2025 , and the first installment wo n’t be released until all three Book are completely written . This is particularly exciting , as it ’s the same manner in which he write the original trilogy and will allow for overarch fluidness . Not to refer , earned run average 3 will also rejoin to the book - distance of the Era 1 series . Sanderson has also observe being especially thrilled about book ten . This is all bright news forMistbornand the Cosmere going forwards .